Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has launched a sharp attack on Democratic leaders, accusing them of a ‘lack of courage’ for continuing to back Attorney General candidate Jay Jones despite his explicit threats. Jones, a former state delegate, is now running for attorney general on the Democratic ticket alongside gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger. Youngkin cited texts from Jones in 2022 where he fantasized about shooting then-Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and suggested that more police deaths would lead to fewer officers being shot. The governor argued that the Democrats’ refusal to disavow Jones could influence the outcome of Virginia’s election.
During a recent debate, Spanberger condemned the texts as ‘abhorrent’ but refused to distance herself from Jones, prompting Youngkin to accuse the party of avoiding responsibility. ‘We have Democrat leaders across the state who are trying to pretend like he didn’t really say this,’ Youngkin said during a segment on America Reports. The governor’s comments come as the November election approaches, with youngkin warning that the race is ‘swinging hard’ and urging voters to participate.